On Twitter, he attacked the some three dozen defectors as “self righteous hypocrites”. At rallies, he assured his supporters, that these politicians are not leaving because he is a sleazy, lady-groping casino boss; it’s because he is speaking truth to power and standing up to “corrupt” Washington.

"I accept the mantle of this responsibility for all of us. I will never stop fighting against the Washington establishment that has betrayed each and every one of you," he told a crowd in Pennsylvania. "Our government has lost it's virtue," he added, the irony apparently lost on him.

Watch | Donald Trump v Hillary Clinton: their most vitriolic remarks

01:11

Pundits have spent the week screaming Mr Trump's downfall. But from a distance it might be difficult to understand why the denunciations of a few politicians have caused such drama in the American presidential race.

The answer lies in a dirty little secret that Mr Trump seems not to want even to admit to himself. Even as he attacked the Republican Party, the real estate mogul placed the fate of his election bid into their hands.

Most presidential campaigns, including Hillary Clinton's, establish their own infrastructure for turning out the vote. They hire thousands of employees and recruit even more volunteers to organise events and rally supporters. While the party they represent might help, it is the campaign which calls the shots.

Watch | Donald Trump looms over Hillary Clinton

00:25

But Donald Trump has outsourced the vast majority of this behemoth, and critical mission to – you guessed it – the Republican National Committee. In attacking them then, he has bitten the hand that feeds him.

The television show host with no past political experience barrelled his way to fame on a string of flamboyant appearances on prime-time television.

But he was backed by very little. Mrs Clinton hired veritable army of communications officers to hone her message.

Mr Trump for a long time relied on Hope Hicks, a glamorous 27 year-old who had previously worked as a PR agent helping Mr Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, with her fashion line.

The committee recruited volunteers in all 50 states, organised campaign events and fundraising dinners. They also coordinated direct mail. With their extensive contact lists, this is an important way to reach Republican voters.

But this week, the RNC threatened to remove that. As the scandal broke, panicked congressmen, Mr Trump’s lewd boasts still ringing in their ears, appealed to party bosses to use the funds to help their own election campaigns.

Watch | Trump v Clinton: second debate highlights

01:54

Voters will go to the ballot for them on the same day as they vote for Mr Trump. And if the Republican presidential candidate has just secured his own defeat, they argued, it was time for triage: sacrifice him to save us, they argued.

This decision may only be temporary, but even so it could be disastrous. There are fewer than 30 days until election day, and already Mr Trump’s turnout operation is woefully behind. Everyday project Victory is on hold is a day in which thousands of votes may have been lost.

It is utterly typical that Mr Trump does not seem to perturbed by the sabotage. A rational decision maker would be working every second to get his party back on side. But that is not Mr Trump.

The showman has thrived on theatrics for more than 16 months of his presidential bid. Contradictions in his policy promises and flip-flops have been a nearly daily occurrence. Schizophrenia has been the name of the game.